Bracket For Attaching A Gutter Cover Tail Portion To A Rain Gutter Fascia Board

ABSTRACT

The receiving channel of the bracket may extend horizontally and open forwardly to receive a trailing portion of a gutter cover, or it may extend vertically and open downwardly to receive an upper edge portion of a rear wall of a rain gutter. An intermediate transition segment on the bracket is disposed generally parallel to the receiving channel, and a brace segment extends generally perpendicularly to the receiving channel and the transition segment. When the receiving channel extends horizontally, the brace segment may be mounted on a gutter-engaging fascia wall. When the receiving channel of the bracket extends vertically, the brace segment is disposed to support the trailing portion of the gutter cover.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application is related to U.S.Provisional Application for Patent No. 60/698,858 filed Jul. 13, 2005,entitled identically with the present application, and incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to mounts or brackets for leaf-repellingrain gutter covers or shields, and more particularly to brackets thatmay be attached to a gutter-supporting fascia board and that receive atrailing end of the gutter cover.

2. Related Art

In the past, typical gutter covers extended rearwardly above the raingutters in relatively elevated positions, and the trailing ends of thecovers were disposed between the lower rows of roof shingles. Morerecently, lower profile gutter covers have been designed, the tail endsof which could be mounted on the fascia boards below the lowest row ofshingles. However, in order to mount the rear portion of a gutter coveron a fascia board, the trailing end of the gutter cover was typicallybent at a 90° angle to provide an upturned, fascia-engaging flange. Dueto dimensional irregularities, fastening the upturned flange to thefascia board could distort the gutter cover. In addition, forming theupturned flange could be expensive and time consuming for the installer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a bracket adapted to be interposed between afascia board and a gutter cover having a longitudinally extendingtrailing portion. In a first exemplary embodiment, the present bracketmay be formed with a receiving channel, an intermediate transitionsegment disposed generally parallel to the receiving channel, and abrace segment extending generally perpendicularly to the receivingchannel and the transition segment. The present bracket may be orientedso that the receiving channel extends generally horizontally at thebottom of the bracket and opens forwardly to receive the trailingportion of the gutter cover. In another exemplary embodiment, thepresent bracket may be oriented so that the receiving channel extendsgenerally downwardly and is open at a lower end to receive an upper edgeportion of a rear wall of a gutter. In yet another exemplary embodiment,the present bracket may be oriented so that the receiving channelextends generally horizontally at the top of the bracket and opensforwardly to receive the trailing portion of the gutter cover. Thetransition segment may be disposed above the receiving channel, and thebrace segment may extend generally downwardly from the transitionsegment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a first embodiment of abracket according to the present invention disposed in an operativeposition between a fascia board and a gutter cover;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a second embodiment of thepresent bracket disposed in an operative position between a fascia boardand a gutter cover;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a third embodiment of thepresent bracket disposed in an operative position between a fascia boardgutter and a gutter cover;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a fourth embodiment of thepresent bracket disposed in an operative position between a fascia boardgutter and a gutter cover;

FIG. 5 is a fragmented perspective view of the first embodiment of thepresent bracket;

FIG. 6 is a fragmented perspective view of the second embodiment of thepresent bracket;

FIG. 7 is a fragmented perspective view of the third embodiment of thepresent bracket; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmented perspective view of the fourth embodiment of thepresent bracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, a first exemplary embodiment of thepresent bracket, generally designated 10, may be interposed between arain gutter-engaging fascia board 12 and a gutter cover 14 having alongitudinally extending rear or trailing portion 16. The bracket 10 maybe used with gutter covers 14 and fascia boards 12 having differentconfigurations from those shown in FIG. 1. The present bracket 10 may beformed with a receiving channel 18, an intermediate transition segment20 disposed generally parallel to the receiving channel 18, and a bracesegment 22 extending generally perpendicularly to the receiving channel18 and the transition segment 20. The present bracket 10 may be orientedso that the receiving channel 18 extends generally horizontally at thebottom of the bracket and opens forwardly to receive the trailingportion 16 of the gutter cover 14. The transition segment 20 may bedisposed above the receiving channel 18, and the brace segment 22 mayextend generally upwardly from the transition segment 20. The bracket 10may be formed from a single strip of aluminum alloy approximately 0.024inches thick, 3.600 inches wide and between 4 and 6 feet long, with thechannel 18, transition segment 20 and brace segment 22 extendingsubstantially the entire length thereof. An outboard flange 24, a firstreturn bend 26 and an inboard segment 28 may define the receivingchannel 18. A second return bend 30 may extend between the inboardsegment 28 and the transition segment 20. The brace segment 22 may besecured to the fascia board 12 by one or more screws 34 or otherfasteners. The outboard flange 24, inboard segment 28 and transitionsegment 20 may be approximately 0.850 inches wide, and the brace segment22 may be approximately 0.750 inches wide. An angle α between the brace22 and the transition segment 20 may be approximately 90°, and the firstand second return bends 26, 30 may each be approximately 180°. The brace22 and the first return bend 26 may be generally coplanar, and a freeedge 32 on the outboard flange 24 and the second return bend 30 may begenerally coplanar. A plurality of the present brackets 10 may be buttedtogether in end-to-end fashion to receive the entire trailing end 16 ofthe gutter cover 14.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6, a second embodiment of the presentbracket, generally designated 100, may have all of the above-describedfeatures of the first embodiment 10, as well as a hemmed front edge 132on the outboard flange 124 and a hemmed upper edge 136 on the bracesegment 122. The hemmed front and upper edges 132, 134 may reduce thechances of an installer or repair person being cut while working on thepresent bracket 100. In addition, the hemmed front edge 132 may act likea stop or detent by being disposed to engage a plurality oflongitudinally spaced apart depressions or cups 138 in the trailing end116 of the gutter cover 114.

FIGS. 3 and 7 illustrate a third embodiment of the present bracket,generally designated 200. The bracket 200 may be oriented so that thereceiving channel 218 extends generally downwardly and is open at alower end to receive an upper edge portion 240 of a rear wall 242 of agutter 244. In this orientation, the outboard flange 224 is adapted tobe disposed between the rear gutter wall 242 and the fascia board 212.The free end 232 of the outboard flange 224 may be angled outwardly towiden the open end of the channel 218 and to provide a friction fitbetween the outboard flange 224 and the fascia board 212 on one side andthe rear gutter wall 242 on the other. The first return bend 226 isadapted to limit the downward movement of the bracket 200 on the reargutter wall 242. The inboard segment 228, second return bend 230 andtransition segment 220 may be vertically oriented and adapted to bedisposed inside the gutter 244.

The brace segment 222 may project forwardly from and generallyperpendicularly to the transition segment 220, the angle α there betweenbeing approximately 90°. The first return bend 226 and the brace segment222 may be generally coplanar. The brace segment 222 may be providedwith a partially overlapping flange 246. The overlapping flange 246 maybe disposed to support a tail portion 216 of the gutter cover 214, andone or more fasteners 234 may secure the tail portion 216 thereto.Alternatively to the fastener or in combination therewith, the tailportion 216 of the gutter cover 214 may be formed with an under turnedflange 217 which may be inserted between the brace segment 222 and theoverlapping flange 246 of the bracket 200. The present bracket 200 maybe approximately 0.024 inch thick. The free end 232 of the outboardflange 224 may be approximately 0.246 inch wide and the remainingportion of the outboard flange 224 may be approximately 0.547 inch wide.The inboard segment 228 of the channel 218 may be approximately 0.771inch wide, and the transition segment 220 may be approximately 0.764inch wide. The brace segment 222 may be approximately 0.664 in wide, andthe partially overlapping flange 246 may be approximately 0.300 inchwide.

FIGS. 4 and 8 illustrate a fourth embodiment of the present bracketgenerally designated 300. The present bracket 300 may be interposedbetween a fascia board 312 and a gutter cover 314 having alongitudinally extending rear or trailing portion 316. The bracket 300may be used with gutter covers 314 and fascia boards 312 havingdifferent configurations from those shown in FIG. 4. The present bracket300 may be formed with a receiving channel 318, an intermediatetransition segment 320 disposed generally parallel to the receivingchannel 318, and a brace segment 322 extending generally perpendicularlyto the receiving channel 318 and the transition segment 320. The presentbracket 300 may be oriented so that the receiving channel 318 extendsgenerally horizontally at the top of the bracket and opens forwardly toreceive the trailing portion 316 of the gutter cover 314. The transitionsegment 320 may be disposed above the receiving channel 318, and thebrace segment 322 may extend generally downwardly from the transitionsegment 320. The bracket 300 may be formed from a single strip ofaluminum alloy approximately 0.024 inches thick, 3.600 inches wide and5.000 feet long, with the channel 318, transition segment 320 and bracesegment 322 extending substantially the entire length thereof. Anoutboard flange 324 having a hemmed front edge 332, a first return bend326 and an inboard segment 328 may define the receiving channel 18. Thehemmed front edge 332 may act like a stop or detent by being disposed toengage a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart depressions or cups338 in the trailing end 316 of the gutter cover 314. A second returnbend 330 may extend between the inboard segment 328 and the transitionsegment 320. The brace segment 322 may be provided with a hemmed loweredge 336 and secured to the fascia board 312 by one or more screws 334or other fasteners. The outboard flange 324 and the inboard segment 328may be approximately 0.600 inches wide, the transition segment 320 maybe approximately 0.800 inches wide, and the brace segment 322 may beapproximately 1.000 inch wide. An angle α between the brace 322 and thetransition segment 320 may be approximately 90°, and the first andsecond return bends 326, 330 may each be approximately 180°. A pluralityof the present brackets 300 may be butted together in end-to-end fashionto receive the entire trailing end 316 of the gutter cover 314.

1. A bracket adapted to be interposed between a rain gutter-engagingfascia board and a gutter cover having a longitudinally extendingtrailing portion, said bracket comprising a receiving channel, anintermediate transition segment disposed generally parallel to thereceiving channel, and a brace segment extending generallyperpendicularly to the receiving channel and the transition segment. 2.The bracket according to claim 1, wherein the receiving channel extendsgenerally horizontally and opens forwardly to receive the trailingportion of the gutter cover, the transition segment is disposedgenerally horizontally and above the receiving channel, and the bracesegment extends generally vertically and upwardly from the transitionsegment.
 3. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein the receivingchannel extends generally vertically and opens downwardly to receive anupper edge portion of a rear wall of the rain gutter, the transitionsegment is disposed generally vertically and forwardly of the receivingchannel and the brace segment extends generally horizontally andforwardly from the transition segment.
 4. The bracket according to claim1, wherein the receiving channel extends generally horizontally andopens forwardly to receive the trailing portion of the gutter cover, thetransition segment is disposed generally horizontally and above thereceiving channel, and the brace segment extends generally verticallyand downwardly from the transition segment.
 5. The bracket according toclaim 1, wherein said bracket is formed from a single strip of aluminumalloy, said strip being between 4 and 6 feet in length.
 6. The bracketaccording to claim 1, wherein the channel, transition segment and braceextend substantially the entire length of said bracket.
 7. The bracketaccording to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said brackets are buttedtogether in end-to-end fashion to receive the trailing end of the guttercover.
 8. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein the brace segment isadapted to be secured to the rain gutter-engaging fascia board.
 9. Thebracket according to claim 1, wherein an angle α between the bracesegment and the transition segment is approximately 90°.
 10. The bracketaccording to claim 1, wherein the receiving channel comprises anoutboard flange, a first return bend and an inboard segment.
 11. Thebracket according to claim 10, wherein a second return bend extendsbetween the inboard segment and the transition segment.
 12. The bracketaccording to claim 11, wherein the first and second return bends areeach approximately 180°.
 13. The bracket according to claim 11, whereinthe brace segment and the first return bend are generally coplanar, andwherein a free edge on the outboard flange and the second return bendare generally coplanar.
 14. The bracket according to claim 11, whereinthe outboard flange is provided with a hemmed front edge and wherein thebrace segment is provided with a hemmed upper edge.
 15. The bracketaccording to claim 11, wherein the outboard flange is adapted to bedisposed between the rain gutter and the rain gutter-engaging fasciaboard.
 16. The bracket according to claim 15, wherein a free end of theoutboard flange is angled outwardly to widen the open end of thechannel.
 17. The bracket according to claim 15, wherein the first returnbend is adapted to limit the downward movement of said bracket on therain gutter.
 18. The bracket according to claim 3, wherein the bracesegment is disposed to support the trailing portion of the gutter cover.19. The bracket according to claim 18, wherein the brace segment isprovided with a partially overlapping flange, said partially overlappingflange being disposed to engage the trailing portion of the guttercover.